Problem: I had a lot of back pain. Some days I’d wake up in pain, and it wouldn’t go away for 1-4 days afterwards. Almost once per week? No rhyme or reason.
Solution: Replace the blanket I was using to sleep. My blanket was too small, I would curl up too tightly to stay under it. Now I still very occasionally get the same problem, I’m guessing because of habits, but it’s more like once every three months.
Stumbled, then confirmed. Circumstances were (a) my partner notified me that having all that back pain was not in fact normal, and (b) often sleeping under a sane blanket because my favored blanket was obviously inadequate for the both of us. Eventually connected the dots enough to form the hypothesis, then did a trial to confirm because I didn’t want to give up my beloved blanket.
As an addition: I solved my back-problems by getting rid of my pillow (I think switching to a really thin one also helps). The first days are a little bit uncomfortable, but then it’s actually quite nice and I sleep more often on the back or stomach, instead on the side. Definitely worth giving it a ~10 days try!
Data point: After reading this comment I tried this for like two months—initially intentionally, but also the pillows I had at the time were not right for me and so I kept doing it because getting the right pillow can take a fair amount of time and money. It actually significantly increased back and neck pain for me, I think because my tendency to sleep on my side is just very very strong.
Not sure. It was a handmade afghan which, when both it and my body were fully flat and at a normal angle (not diagonal), did not quite reach from above my head to below my feet. I am 5′10″ and had a habit of covering my head with the blanket at night. (I retained that habit until half a year ago when I got a blindfold eye covering thinger that was actually comfortable.)
Now I use the enormous Costco blanket that’s super soft and I highly recommend for yourself and for giving as gifts, except when it’s too hot and I use a blanket which covers the entirety of a queen-sized bed.
Problem: I had a lot of back pain. Some days I’d wake up in pain, and it wouldn’t go away for 1-4 days afterwards. Almost once per week? No rhyme or reason.
Solution: Replace the blanket I was using to sleep. My blanket was too small, I would curl up too tightly to stay under it. Now I still very occasionally get the same problem, I’m guessing because of habits, but it’s more like once every three months.
Wow! How did you locate the hypothesis? Or did you just stumble onto it?
Stumbled, then confirmed. Circumstances were (a) my partner notified me that having all that back pain was not in fact normal, and (b) often sleeping under a sane blanket because my favored blanket was obviously inadequate for the both of us. Eventually connected the dots enough to form the hypothesis, then did a trial to confirm because I didn’t want to give up my beloved blanket.
As an addition: I solved my back-problems by getting rid of my pillow (I think switching to a really thin one also helps). The first days are a little bit uncomfortable, but then it’s actually quite nice and I sleep more often on the back or stomach, instead on the side. Definitely worth giving it a ~10 days try!
Data point: After reading this comment I tried this for like two months—initially intentionally, but also the pillows I had at the time were not right for me and so I kept doing it because getting the right pillow can take a fair amount of time and money. It actually significantly increased back and neck pain for me, I think because my tendency to sleep on my side is just very very strong.
How large was the blanket that was too small and how large is your blanket now?
Not sure. It was a handmade afghan which, when both it and my body were fully flat and at a normal angle (not diagonal), did not quite reach from above my head to below my feet. I am 5′10″ and had a habit of covering my head with the blanket at night. (I retained that habit until half a year ago when I got a blindfold eye covering thinger that was actually comfortable.)
Now I use the enormous Costco blanket that’s super soft and I highly recommend for yourself and for giving as gifts, except when it’s too hot and I use a blanket which covers the entirety of a queen-sized bed.